Ephesians 4:2, NIV

As we look back on these past four weeks of our Community Practice, I wonder—has this been easy for you, challenging, or maybe a little of both?

For me, two practices have been especially challenging and impactful so far: Solitude and Community.

Solitude has become the place where I most clearly experience God’s presence. Honestly, I can’t imagine my spiritual growth without it. I now see it as essential—without Solitude, I’m not sure how meaningful formation could happen.

Community, on the other hand, has been teaching me something equally profound: we are not designed to be alone. Spiritual formation happens over time, in long-term relationships, where we can be vulnerable and fully ourselves.

At Formation Church, we define Community as “Intentional Relational Connections.” Practicing the Way offers an even richer definition: “The intentional discipline of actively building highly relational, joyfully-connected kinship groups that eat and laugh and pray and worship and follow Jesus together as family.”

The key words here are intentional and relational.

Community doesn’t just happen by serendipity. A Christ-centered Community has, at minimum, four defining marks:

1. Fellowship – gathering around a shared life in Christ
2. Authenticity – being real and vulnerable with one another
3. Forgiveness – extending grace when we fail each other
4. Commitment – staying connected even when it’s hard

This is what sets Christian Community apart from a group of friends who simply enjoy one another’s company. Our unity isn’t based on similarity of backgrounds, preferences, or life stage—it’s grounded in our shared faith in Jesus.